Portable lectern



Feb. 27', 1962 Filed Nov. 26, 1958 Fig.3.

H. W. SHAW PORTABLE LECTERN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Fig.4.

INVENTOR Henry W. Show Feb. 27, 1962 H. w. SHAW 3,023,274

PORTABLE LECTERN Filed Nov. 26, 1958 I 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

INVENTOR Henry W. Show United States Patent 3,023,274 PORTABLE LECTERN Henry W. Shaw, 661 Rochester Road, Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pa. Filed Nov. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 776,618 4 Claims. (Cl. 179-1) This invention relates to a portable lectern, more especially one providing an amplifier, or like equipment, for audible sound powered in any suitable way. More particularly, this invention relates to a folding lectern and case which may be eificiently utilized in combination with a self-contained voice or music amplifier and powering batteries, or alternately connected to an electric power source as and when available.

A need has long existed for a self-contained portable electronic lectern capable of amplifying either voice, or music, and reproducing it with reasonable fidelity. The instant invention supplies such need and provides a new lectern construction in a single case which is compact and easy both to set up and to put away. Morever, it can be used with a microphone or record pickup, for example, in a proximate or remote relation thereto, as desired. The character of my lectern is such that ample storage space is provided without disturbing the lectern surface itself or the accessibility of the controls and connections, which may incorporate a switch to shut off the power when the case is closed should an operator forget so to do.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and-the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of one embodiment only, in which FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing the front of one embodiment of my invention in a closed condition;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 looking at the back thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section from front to back of the closed lecternshown in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section similar to that shown in FIGURE 3 with, however, the lectern cover being in fully open operative position and illustrating the pivotal character of the panels which form a lectern surface;

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective with the lectern embodiment open and with the lower panel swung away from the interior of the cover in which equipment is stored; and

FIGURE 6 is the lectern open and ready for use.

Referring to the drawings, a portable lectern 10 is shown therein suitable for voice or music amplification by means of the self-contained equipment therein. Lectern 10 comprises a case consisting of a body 11 and a box-like cover 12 which closes the top of the body when the lectern is to be carried. Normally, resilient feet 13 are provided on the underside of the bottom wall 14 of the body 11. Front wall 15 is provided with a cut-out portion 16 and is higher than back wall 17 of the body, the upper edges of both such walls being horizontal and straight. The upper edges of the side walls 18 of body 11 incline downwardly and rearwardly joining the ends of the respective upper edges of such body at the front and back.

Cover 12 is provided with a front wall 13 and a back wall 20 of respectively different heights fastened to a flat horizontal top wall 21 having a handle 22 afiixed thereto so that the lectern device may be carried when it is closed. Catches 23 have respective parts thereof af-.

fixed to the body and the cover to hold the respective members together in closed condition when desired, as shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, inclusive. The lower back 3,923,274 Patented Feb. 27, 1962 edge of cover 12 and the upper back edge of body 11 are pivotally connected by a piano-type hinge 24 having a plurality of leaves, those leaves marked 24a hingely connecting the back of cover 12 to the back of body 11. Back wall 20 of cover 12 is also provided with resilient spacers 25 which engage the outside of back wall 17 when cover 12 is fully opened to steady the cover against the body 11 when the lectern is in operative position as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6.

A lower panel 26 is hinged about the same axis as cover 12 by leaves 24b of hinge 24. Panel 26 is adapted to fit the open bottom of cover 12 which is uppermost when cover 12 is in the position shown in FIGURE 4. The inside of cover 12 has a liner 27 surrounding the inside and preferably covered with a suitable material such as plastic or fabric. The height of liner 27 is such that it provides an edge 28 on which the edge of panel 26 can rest when it is in the position shown in FIGURE 4 (in solid outline) closing the otherwise open interior space 29 of cover 12. The edge of panel 26 remote from hinge 24 is provided with a lip 39 at an abrupt angle to surface 31, the lower portion of the whole lectern surface. Lip 30 provides a step as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 on which reading or other material may rest without sliding off the surface of the lectern when it is being used. A fingerhole 32 enables panel 26 to be separated from cover 12 whenever such is desired as in the case when the equipment in space 29 is to be removed therefrom or inserted therein. Such panel 26 may be made of plywood or hardboard or other suitable, reasonably rigid material. The walls of the case may also be made of such material or of lightweight sheet metal suitably finished on the surface.

An upper panel 33 is also hinged about the same axis as cover 29 and panel 26, such panel 33 being connected to hinge 24 by leaves 24c. An interior molding strip or other means may be used to seat the edges of upper panel 36 in the same manner as that provided for panel 26, or other seating means may be used. In the solid line position shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, panel 33 fits into and closes the open top of body 11. It too is provided with a finger hole 34 which enables it to be swung relative to body 11. The edge of panel 33 remote from hinge 24 is provided with a recess or depression 35 acting as a tray for a series of controls and other members shown therein. It will be understood that in the new portable lectern construction of this invention, other arrangements of equipment may be utilized therein. The upper surface 31a of upper panel 33 when the case is open and in operative position forms a straight continuation of surface 31 thereby making the lectern area virtually twice the horizontal cross sectional area of the new device when closed and results in an efiicient and economical arrangement.

The new lectern construction of this invention includes provision for a unique mode for mounting and storing electronic equipment which may be carried in and by such lectern case. Thus, a power speaker 36 is mounted on the inside of front wall 15 with sound-transmitting cloth or grill material 37 appearing in the cut-out from the outside as a matter of decoration. A preassembled power pack 38 is secured to bottom wall 14 in body 11 and because of its weight acts as an effective stabilizer to prevent easy tipping of the device 10. Such a power pack 38 will when used with, for example, a volt alternating house current, convert such current into a direct current power supply. In addition, additional stability is obtained in the illustrated embodiment by having a battery frame 39 secured to bottom wall '14, which battery frame is made for the firm holding of dry batteries. Or, rechargeable type batteriesmay be fixed to body 11 by frame 39 and connected to power supply 38 for automatic recharging whenever device ill is connected to a house current, for example, in the course of use. Preferably, the inside of body 11 is lined with acoustic, sound-absorbing material 66.

A transistor amplifier 4t) mounted and fastened to a single chassis is secured to the underside of upper panel 33 next to the depression 35. Such mounting enables the amplifier to be readily inspected, or serviced when panel 33 is swung in the direction of arrow 41 over on top of panel 26 in its full line position in FIGURE 4. Moreover, the physical separation between amplifier 4t and power supply 38 inhibits interference between AC. and DC. parts of the construction which might otherwise induce noise or an alternating current bum in the apparatus. Details of the circuitry and wiring are not shown because those are matters which may be varied and will be understood by persons having skill in the amplifier art to whom this invention is disclosed.

Depression 35 forms a tray for respective connections and controls. As shown, the positions 42 and 43 are provided with a microphone jack socket and a phonograph socket, respectively. A selector switch is shown at position 44 and the positions 45 are provided with knobs for volume, base and treble control. An on-and-off power switch 46 is provided, next to which there is a lamp socket 47 and a house current power supply plug 48 for optional alternate use when desired. Switch 46 preferably is of the pull-on, push-off type with a stem 49 which is long enough to carry head 50 thereof into the position shown in FIGURE 4 when the switch is on. That on position of switch 46 makes head 50 high enough so that in the event that an operator using the portable electronic lectern 10 should fail to turn the device oif upon the completion of his use thereof, the closing of cover 12 will cause lower panel 26 to pressingly engage head 50 and turn the switch off, such switch being shown in its off position in FIGURE 3.

When the lower panel 26 is separated from cover 12 to expose interior space 29 (see FIGURE it will be seen that suitable storage space is provided therein during transport of device 19 for a voice microphone 51, a lamp 52 with its standard having a plug 53 to fit into socket 47, a positionable microphone holder 54 the lower end 55 of which may be a taper to fit into hole 34 when the microphone is to be used in the position shown in FIGURE 6 with its microphone cord 56 inserted in jack socket 42. A flexible strap 57 fastened to the underside of the top wall of cover 12 holds such items as an extension cord 58 to extend between plug 48 and a wall outlet for the building or house current supply used to power device It} whenever it is not operated on batteries. The connection of device to such a current outlet may also be used to automatically charge batteries in frame 39 when they are of an appropriate type and suitably connected to power pack 38. Flexible strap 57 may also be used to hold a lavaliere cord (not shown) having a mount to hold the microphone 51 so that a user may walk away from the lectern in the course, for example, of demonstrating some particular point on a chart or drawing. When the microphone is worn around the neck of the user, a longer microphone cord 56 between microphone 51 and socket 42 is employed. Upon completion of use, the various parts can be returned to the lectern case and secured in position by spring clips 59 attached to cover 12 before the cover is closed and the, catches 23 fastened to enable the device to be transported by the handle 22.

Various changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment of the leotern itself and in the mounting or character of the electronic parts shown used therewith without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable sound amplifying lectern, apparatus comprising, in combination, a generally rectilinear case having a body and a cover presenting when closed a relatively rectangular appearance in front elevation and an oblong in side elevation standing on its narrower side, said body having substantially vertical front and back walls with said front wall higher, said cover having less height than said body, said cover further forming at least a substantial portion of the top of said case, said cover having a straight front edge and straight upper and lower back edges, the front of said cover being of lesser height than the back wall of said cover between said back edges, a hinge with a plurality of leaves some of which connect said cover at said lower back edge to the upper back edge of said body, a lower panel fastened to others of said leaves of said hinge to pivot about said hinge, said lower panel being adapted to fit and normally close the open bottom of said cover, an upper panel fastened to still others of said leaves of said hinge to pivot about said hinge, said upper panel being adapted to fit and normally close the open top of said body, the surface portions of said lower and upper panels forming a continuous lectern suppont when said cover and lower panel are fully open, said front wall of said body having a power speaker cutout, a power speaker fastened to the back of said lastnamed wall in registry with said cutout, power supply means fastened in and to a lower portion of said body, an amplifier attached to the underside of said upper panel, equipment storage means inside of said cover normally covered by said lower panel, catch means to fasten said cover and body together in closed case position to prevent said cover swinging open about said hinge when said catch means are engaged, and handle means fixed to the outside top of said cover to carry said lectern in upright position when closed.

2. In a portable lectern, apparatus comprising, in combination, a generally rectilinear case having a body and a cover, said cover being at least a substantial portion of the top of said case, said cover having less height than said body and having a straight front edge and straight upper and lower back edges, hinge means with a plurality of leaves some of which connect said lower back edge of said cover to said body, a first panel fastened to others of said leaves of said hinge means to pivot about the axis of said hinge means, said first panel being adapted normally to close the opening in said cover when said case is open with said cover swung about said axis to a position substantially against the upper part of the back of said body, a second panel fastened to still others of said leaves of said hinge means to pivot about the axis of said hinge means, said second panel being adapted normally to close the opening in the top of said body when said case is open with said cover swung about said axis to a position substantially against the upper part of the back of said body, the surface portions of said first and second panels forming a continuous area support when said cover and first panel are fully open, a wall of said body having a power speaker cutout, a power speaker fastened inside said body to project sound outwardly through said cutout, power supply means fastened within a lower portion of said body, storage space on the inside of said cover normally covered by said first panel, catch means to fasten said cover and body together in closed case position to prevent said cover swinging open about said hinge means when said catch means are engaged, and a handle fixed on the outside of the top of said case to carry said lectern in upright position when closed.

3. A portable lectern as set forth in claim 1, having a pull-on push-off power switch, the height of said switch in pull-on position being sufficient to be engaged by the closing of said cover to close said case to move said switch automatically to push-off position.

4. In a portable lectern, apparatus comprising, in cornbination, a case having a relatively deep body portion and a relatively shallow cover portion hinged together about a transverse hinge axis at the upper end of the back of said body portion to present a relatively regular rectilinear appearance when said case is closed, said body portion and cover portion having interior panel support members hinged about said hinge axis, said cover portion when open being in a position substantially against the upper part of the back of said body portion above the bottom of said body portion and the surface on which said portable lectern may be resting at that time, said support members when said cover portion is open together normally closing the openings into said body and cover portions and forming a continuous planar lectern support sloping toward the back for a user thereof, power supply 15 2,868,878

6 means positioned within said body portion in gravity pressing stabilizing relation, catch means to fasten said cover and body portions together when said cover portion is swung to closed position to close said lectern, a power switch having a projecting portion adapted to be engaged by the closing of said cover portion to automatically shut 01f said power, and a handle in permanent position on the top of said cover portion for the carrying of said case in upright position when said cover portion 10 is closed to close said lectern.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pronio ..a ....t. Jan. 13, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,023 274 February 27, 1962 Henry W. Shaw It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, lines 39 and 40, strike out "being at least a substantial portion of the top of said case, said cover" and insert the same after "and", first occurrence, in line 41, same column.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of June 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD ERNEST W. SWIDEH Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

